I need the present tense form of the verb choose in this sentence. Fred chooses a piece of wood. Is it chooses or chose? Also in this sentence, Jim lies his jacket on the bench. Is lies or lays correct?
"Chooses" is present tense; "chose" is the past tense.
In the second sentence, "lays" is correct.
In the sentence "Fred chooses a piece of wood," the present tense form of the verb choose is "chooses." To determine the correct form, you can identify the subject (Fred) and then use the appropriate present tense form of the verb for that subject. In this case, the subject "Fred" is a third-person singular pronoun, so we use the present tense form "chooses."
Regarding the second sentence, "Jim lies his jacket on the bench," the correct form is "lays." The verb "lay" is used when something is being placed or put down by someone. To determine the correct form, you need to identify the subject (Jim) and the object being laid (his jacket). Since Jim is the one performing the action, and the option "lays" corresponds to the present tense form for third-person singular subjects, "lays" is the correct choice.
Remember, when you are unsure about the appropriate verb form, it is helpful to identify the subject and understand the conjugation rules for the specific tense you are using.